Avast! A Treasure Trove of Pirate Books

Ahoy ye scurvy dogs! Johnny Depp's latest turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest has once again sparked interest in these swashbuckling high sea raiders. Pirate literature, fiction and fact, first appeared more than 300 years ago. Old favourites, hard-to-find classics, and collectable out-of-print pirate book booty are all available on AbeBooks. At these prices, you won't have to rob anyone - unless you seek to plunder the rare treasures.

Robert Louis Stevenson

First published in 1883, Treasure Island remains the quintessential pirate adventure. Set sail with cabin boy Jim Hawkins as a secret treasure map becomes the key to heart-pounding thrills, danger and swashbuckling action. Crossing the Atlantic in search of the buried cache, Jim and the ship's crew must brave the elements and a mutinous charge led by the most ruthless pirate of them all, Long John Silver.

Captain Woodes Rogers

Captain Rogers recounts his voyage around the world from 1708-1711 aboard The Duke, including the rescue of marooned Alexander Selkirk (the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe) and the harassment of the Spanish.

John Esquemeling

Intrigued by piracy, maritime history, and drama on the high seas? Here's a fascinating chronicle of the bands of plundering sea rovers who roamed the Caribbean and coastlines of Central America in the 17th century. Detailed accounts of shrewd and fearless men, excellent navigators, and blood-thirsty adventurers who frequently committed inhuman acts of cruelty - among them the infamous Henry Morgan, whose exploits culminated in the seizure and burning of Panama City.

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck's first novel, and his only historical novel, Cup of Gold details the life of the pirate Henry Morgan. In the 1670s, Morgan, a pirate and outlaw of legendary viciousness, ruled
the Spanish Main. He ravaged the coasts of Cuba and America, striking terror
wherever he went. Morgan was obsessive. He had two driving ambitions: one to possess the beautiful woman called La Santa Roja, the other, to conquer Panama, the "cup of gold."

Howard Pyle

Alhough Howard Pyle was first and foremost an artist (and second a teacher - he mentored N.C. Wyeth among others), many of the books he wrote are regarded as classics. The Book of Pirates, which features his magnificent illustrations in recounting the adventures of the buccaneers and the marooners of the Spanish Main, was first published in 1903.

W.E. Johns

From the creator of Biggles, which was believed to have inspired countless boys to pursue their dreams of becoming a pilot. Flying Officer William Earl Johns also dabbled in both fictional and factual books for both youth and adults. Published in 1939, Modern Boy's Book of Pirates is a collection of 31 stories originally published in Modern Boys magazine.

Jo Mora

Born to artist parents, Joseph Jacinto Mora was a multi-talented artist who excelled in cartooning, photography, writing and sculpting. A Log of the Spanish Main, published in 1933, consisted of 12 pirate biographies written by Mora while aboard Grace Line cruise ships during several voyages to the Spanish Main.

James Fenimore Cooper

An early 19th century American writer, James Fenimore Cooper was best known for penning The Last of the Mohicans. First published in the US in 1830, The Water Witch (or The Skimmer of the Seas) is a classic tale of abduction on the high seas.

Angus Konstam

The Complete Book of Pirates traces piracy from the seas of antiquity to the New World and beyond. It is a thorough, authoritative, and memorable portrait of the fascinating world of pirates, paying tribute to many infamous buccaneers: Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Bartholomew Roberts, to name a few.

Douglas Botting

A British explorer, author, and television personality, Douglas Botting is a well known biographer and historian. This Time-Life Seafarer Series book, among other titles he wrote, was published in 1978 and showcases piracy's golden age.